Paraglider rescued at Torrey Pines, airlifted to La Jolla hospital

A 58-year-old paraglider crashed and was trapped on cliffs about 20 to 30 feet down from the bluff top Torrey Pines Gliderport before being rescued Dec. 24.

"A call came in at 2 p.m. of a man stranded on the cliffs,'' San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesman Lee Swanson said. "A helicopter extricated him from the cliffs about 3:05 p.m. and flew him to Scripps La Jolla Hospital."

Swanson said the rescue effort also involved lifeguards and one fire engine.

San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum said the male paraglider got stranded after a botched takeoff.

"He ran into some trouble trying to abort the takeoff but it was too late," Lerum said. "He got pushed down into a hard landing on the cliff."

Lerum said the paraglider complained of back pain and had difficulty moving before being airlifted from the cliff.